Glamorgan scored a mammoth 600 but could not bowl out Gloucestershire twice on a placid pitch in Bristol as the Division Two match ended in a draw

Will Tavare produced a back-to-the-wall innings reminiscent of his famous uncle to help Gloucestershire salvage a draw from their LV= County Championship match against Glamorgan at Bristol.

Having seen the visitors claim a first innings lead of 224 before declaring at 615 for seven on the final morning, Tavare opened Gloucestershire's second innings and faced 167 balls in a fighting knock of 41, occupying more than three and a half hours.

It enabled the hosts to reach 165 for five when the players shook hands with a possible five overs remaining. Former Kent and Somerset batsman Chris Tavare, who built a reputation as a stone-waller with England would have been rightly proud of his 24-year-old nephew.

Ian Cockbain contributed 25 off 97 balls to a fourth-wicket stand of 44 with Tavare that used up 32.1 overs before Will Gidman's 47 not out ensured Gloucestershire of a draw.

Glamorgan's bowlers toiled hard on a pitch which had been unresponsive throughout the game, but had to be content with 12 points from the game to their opponents' nine.

The final day began with Glamorgan batting on for five overs, extending an overnight lead of 178. Ruaidhri Smith was 57 not out off 111 balls when the declaration came.

There were some forgettable bowling figures for Gloucestershire. Left-arm spinner Tom Smith went for 183 from his 52 overs, while claiming three wickets, and seamers Liam Norwell and Matt Taylor also registered unwanted centuries in runs conceded.

It was a memorable baptism for 17-year-old debutant wicketkeeper Patrick Grieshaber, who conceded 17 byes, largely as a result of wayward bowling, in standing behind the stumps for 159 overs.

Glamorgan looked set to press home their advantage when Graham Wagg struck twice and Jacques Rudolph claimed a stunning slip catch of Jim Allenby to reduce Gloucestershire to 49 for three at lunch.

But Tavare and Cockbain then dug in for most of the afternoon session. At one point the pair played out 57 consecutive dot balls as they battled to save the game.

Cockbain was eventually caught at slip off the occasional leg-spin of Rudolph and at tea the home side were 103 for four with 34 more overs due to be bowled.

Tavare perished in the final session, gloving a leg side catch to wicketkeeper Mark Wallace off Smith, but Gidman and Benny Howell saw Gloucestershire to safety.

Glamorgan coach Toby Radford said: "I'm proud of the way the bowlers stuck to their task and our efforts in building a big lead in the face of a near 400 total. But in the end the pitch didn't deteriorate sufficiently for us to force the win."

Gloucestershire have signed 21-year-old former Hampshire wicketkeeper Adam Rouse on a one-month trial to help provide cover for the injured Cameron Herring and Gareth Roderick.

Director of cricket John Bracewell said: "Patrick Grieshaber kept well in this match and will share first team duties with Adam. It was not realistic to expect a 17-year-old to play in all the matches while Cameron and Gareth are out."

Ben Wright hit a sparkling 125-ball century to give Glamorgan a chance of pulling off an unlikely LV=County Championship victory over Gloucestershire at Bristol.

Replying to the home side's 391, the Welsh county posted 569 for seven by the end of day three, claiming maximum batting points. Wright contributed 123 and Jacques Rudolph, unbeaten on 108 overnight, eventually fell for 139.

Wright's superb innings featured 24 fours and a six. The 26-year-old Lancastrian began the day on eight in a score of 209 for two and batted through the morning session with Rudolph, the pair adding 130 to the total by lunch.

Half-centuries from Jim Allenby and Chris Cooke later cemented Glamorgan's grip on the game as Gloucestershire's bowlers toiled in fierce afternoon sunshine.

By the close the visitors led by 178 and have the opportunity to apply some pressure tomorrow.

The pitch, which had looked bland on day two, offered no more assistance to the bowlers as Rudolph and, particularly Wright, scored quickly from the start of the day.

Wright, who had looked uncomfortable at times the previous evening, hit top form with some sweet timing and moved to a half-century off 71 balls, outscoring his partner.

Their stand of 158 took the score to 343 in the afternoon session before Rudolph departed, caught at third-man advancing to a short ball from Matt Taylor and attempting to uppercut it for six. The opener had faced 266 balls and hit 18 fours and a six.

Wright followed with the total on 370, caught by Ian Cockbain behind square, looking to sweep left-arm spinner Tom Smith. He left the pitch to warm applause and can rarely have played better.

Gloucestershire's efforts to stem the scoring rate and prevent their opponents gaining a meaningful lead were centred around bowling short to a field with as many as three or four players on the leg-side boundary.

Allenby was dropped at mid-off by Benny Howell off Smith on seven and went on to enjoy himself, hitting boundaries off three consecutive balls from Liam Norwell, who conceded 17 from a single over.

It was 475 for four at tea, with Glamorgan 84 in front and Allenby having reached a 75-ball half-century. He fell soon after the interval, caught at deep square off Norwell.

Cooke followed to catch at cover off the same bowler, having made a solid 52 off 111 balls, and Graham Wagg had to retire hurt on five after being hit by a short ball from Taylor.

But Glamorgan moved relentlessly past the 500-mark before Andrew Salter fell leg before to Howell for 19. By then it was clear they were intent on batting through the day.

Glamorgan coach Toby Radford said: "Graham Wagg took a nasty blow on the back of the head and was a bit woozy for an hour or so. But he's back to his normal chirpy self now.

"Ben Wright played beautifully and we are hoping this is an innings he can really kick on from. We will probably bat on for a bit in the morning and then hopefully our bowlers can do some damage."

Director of cricket John Bracewell provided an update on Gloucestershire's injury problems, saying: "Cameron Herring will undergo surgery on Thursday to have a pin inserted in his broken finger and we will be looking to sign a wicketkeeper on loan.

"Michael Klinger's injury has been confirmed by X-rays as a broken toe, but we are not sure yet how long he will be out of action."

Day Two Gloucestershire 391 Glamorgan 209-2

Glamorgan openers Jacques Rudolph and Will Bragg made hay in the west country sunshine as the LV=County Championship match with Gloucestershire at Bristol headed in the direction of a high-scoring draw on the second day.

After the hosts had been bowled out for 391 from an overnight 308 for five, Rudolph and Bragg put together a stand of 151 in 41.3 overs on a frustratingly bland pitch before Bragg fell for 67.

Rudolph went on to end the day unbeaten on 108, having reached his second century in successive Championship games off 152 balls, with 15 fours and a six. At 209 for two, Glamorgan looked well placed to at least avoid defeat.

Earlier, Michael Hogan had finished with four for 57 from 27 overs of wholehearted pace bowling, which helped restrict Gloucestershire to three batting points. Benny Howell's 47 was the only sizable contribution from their late order.

The morning session began with the hosts needing 42 from 14 overs to take a fourth bonus point. Their hopes of scoring quickly enough to achieve it were soon hit by a needless run out.

Will Gidman played the ball firmly to mid-on and set off for a single that was not there. Tom Smith responded belatedly to the call, but was comfortably beaten by Hogan's throw and departed for 16.

When Gidman was caught behind off Jim Allenby for 20 it brought 17-year-old debutant Patrick Grieshaber to the crease. The young wicketkeeper acquitted himself well, making ten off 44 balls and helping Howell add 36 valuable runs, but the fourth batting point was not secured as the hosts closed the 110th over on 329 for seven.

Grieshaber was caught at slip trying to force Dean Cosker off the back foot and at lunch Gloucestershire were 385 for eight, with Howell their main hope of reaching 400.

They were bowled out nine runs short, Howell edging Hogan to slip and Matt Taylor lofting a catch to long-off to give Cosker a second wicket.

The pitch was offering little assistance to any type of bowling and Gloucestershire's attack were soon finding it no easier than their Glamorgan counterparts.

Rudolph and Bragg took the visitors' reply to 78 off 26 overs by tea, Rudolph surviving one close shave when he top-edged a pull shot off Liam Norwell just short of Smith at deep square.

Grieshaber was presented with his Gloucestershire county cap during the tea interval. After the break Rudolph was first to his half-century off 81 balls, with nine fours.

Bragg followed to the same landmark, having faced 97 deliveries and hit seven boundaries, the partnership having reached 114 at that point.

It was finally broken when Bragg chipped a catch to mid-wicket off left-arm spinner Smith, who claimed a second victim when Mark Wallace, on 17, was snapped up by Will Tavare at short-leg. By then the pitch was the main talking point..

Glamorgan coach Toby Radford said: "It was a funny looking wicket when we examined at the start, with a lot of grass on it, yet very dry and cracked.

"We didn't really know how it was going to play, but it has turned out a lot flatter than you would have thought, considering the amount of grass. The bowlers have really had to toil to get any wickets and I thought ours stuck to their task well."

Gloucestershire skipper Hamish Marshall said: "We feel it is one of those pitches where the best time to bat is the first couple of days. If the weather stays the same, we hope some deterioration will kick in."

Day One Gloucestershire 308-5

Stand-in skipper Hamish Marshall led from the front with his second century of the season as injury-hit Gloucestershire ran up 308 for five in glorious sunshine on the opening day of the LV= County Championship Division Two match with Glamorgan at Bristol.

Having won an important toss, the experienced former New Zealand Test batsman, leading his side in the absence of Michael Klinger, made 109, hitting a six over long-on off Andrew Salter and seven fours.

Despite the best efforts of Michael Hogan, who bowled with great heart on an unhelpful pitch to claim three for 39 from 19 overs, Glamorgan were unable to prevent their hosts taking a grip on the game.

The hosts had to rule out Klinger before the start with a foot injury, sustained in the previous evening's NatWest T20 Blast game against Hampshire, and then lost wicketkeeper Cameron Herring to a damaged finger sustained in the warm-up.

Seventeen-year-old Academy keeper Patrick Grieshaber, a Jack Russell discovery, from Marshfield, near Bath, had to be summoned from local club cricket and registered with the ECB to play for the first XI in order to make his debut.

It was as well Marshall won the toss and elected to bat, giving Grieshaber, a product of Gloucestershire's schoolboy set-up, time to reach the ground before he was required.

The home side needed a calming influence after the injury setbacks and the early loss of opener Chris Dent, who departed for two to a catch at square-leg off Hogan.

They found it in the unflappable Tavare, who is making a big impression in his debut season. The nephew of former England batsman Chris Tavare already has two hundreds to his name and added a half-century off 87 balls, with 10 fours.

Alex Gidman survived a big appeal for a bat-pad catch at short-leg off Dean Cosker before having his stumps scattered playing across a ball from Ruaidhri Smith and falling with the total on 83.

Lunch was taken at 98 for two and the early afternoon session produced the most compelling cricket as Hogan summoned up lively pace from the Ashley Down Road End. He gave Tavare and Marshall a torrid time before bowling Tavare between bat and pad.

The in-form seamer sent down eight hostile overs for 19 runs. But Marshall survived and went to his half-century off 94 balls, with four fours.

He and Cockbain continued to prosper in the final session after tea had been taken at 194 for three.

Marshall opened his shoulders to dispatch Salter for six and four off successive deliveries, moving to a 164-ball ton, while his partner emerged from a scratchy start to reach a half-century off 131 balls before being pinned lbw by a ball that kept low from Jim Allenby.

They had added 145 to put Gloucestershire in control. Hogan then steamed in with the second new ball and bowled Marshall of an inside edge to claim his 100th first class wicket for Glamorgan in just 20 matches.

That drew glowing praise from coach Toby Radford, who said: "Michael seems to do it every game for us. It was a slow, flat pitch on a hot day and he has kept going and come back hard with the second new ball.

"He is a top-class bowler with good pace, who is always testing the batsmen because he can move the ball both ways."

Gloucestershire director of cricket John Bracewell said: "Cameron Herring has mashed up a finger pretty badly and we think it is broken.

"Patrick Grieshaber was due to play club cricket for Downend today, but was called to the ground so that we could register him to play.

"It was generous of Glamorgan to allow us to make the late change and we thank them for that."

Toss and Team news

Gloucestershire won the toss and elected to bat.

The first day start was put back to 12 noon because of the Twenty20 matches on Friday night. The next three days will all begin at the more traditional 11am.

Glamorgan named an unchanged side from the team who defeated Kent at the Swalec Stadium. Gloucestershire captain Michael Klinger was ruled out with a foot injury with Hamish Marshall taking over the leadership role.

The hosts then lost wicketkeeper Cameron Herring to a damaged finger sustained in the warm-up. Seventeen-year-old Academy keeper Patrick Grieshaber, a Jack Russell discovery, from Marshfield, near Bath, had to be summoned from local club cricket and registered with the ECB to play for the first XI in order to make his debut.

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